Seasonal Bonfire

I have been asked recently by a much younger and less mature member of our team, if or if not, there is an official date when to change from summer riding dress (short sleeve team jerseys, short team bib shorts, short finger team gloves) into winter riding gear (not existing long sleeve team jersey, whatever long trousers and anyway not warm enough gloves).

After all, we are living in Japan, and such drastic seasonal changes in appearances and habits cannot be done by everyone just as one feels that they should be done. No, there has to be a clear rule, a precise date when the change has to be simultaneously conducted by all affected:

• Open air swimming pools close on August 31st when the summer is over, regardless of the fact that the weather continues to be hot and humid for at least another month. North-Germans, British and Scandinavians can possibly continue to swim outside for another three months.
  
  
  
  
• School uniform must be changed precisely on October 1st from light summer into equally light winter clothes of a different color.
  
  
• Regrettably, the return of ties and the close of the cool-biz season seems not be aligned yet along strict rules on the other hand.

For compelling reasons, I would like to state clearly how the Positivo Espresso Team has handle the change of the seasons in it's long and proud club tradition (since 2007). Most important I assume, is the ability of "blissful ignorance" of the seasons which will help experienced members to withstand any adverse circumstances. In case of doubt, please note the club slogan noted on the very bottom of this page.

But secondly, yes, there is actually a date for team wear changes and this is the second Sunday on November, or, to be more precise the day on which the JCRC / Tour-du-Japon Saiko race is conducted. On the Saturday before the race team members are allowed and actually encouraged to ride training laps around the lake in short sleeve jerseys, however shortly before midnight of the same day, a huge bonfire is lit by a team member with a similar name in the village of Saiko before an old abandoned shrine dedicated to the goddess of mompe.

The members assemble and one after each other they throw their summer wear into the fire and mumble heathen slogans in English spoken today only in the city of Bradford. Thereby they get rid of their dreadful summer season racing or training results and prepare themselves for another season where nothing will be achieved but with much more expensive clothing and equipment.

David Marx from Assos Japan continues to sponsor the event and his booth with brand new Assos winter gear is conveniently located close to the bonfire so that the now naked and freezing member can enjoy the purchase of something not as expensive as Rapha.